Laurent Bolognini was born in Saint Germain en
Laye (France) in 1959. After studies at the “Societé
Française de Photographie,” he launched his career
as a light designer from 1990 onward. He conceived
and realized his first “Galiléographe” in 1998. The
device was meant to generate a luminous backdrop
for Berlioz Benvenuto Cellini, a concept he created
in partnership with Francoise Henry during their
collaboration as a group “Les Alternateurs Volants”
(1998-2006).
His “Galiléographe #1” was exhibited at the “Espace
Electra”, rue Récamier, Paris, in 1999. The year 2000
was the starting point of a long adventure, involving
two different types of partnerships, some being the
interweaving of his plastic work with the performing
arts, the other with the musical world. The outcome
of this approach was to become the substance of
further exhibitions and performances. “Illumination”
exemplifies the transition from the performing arts to
the plastic arts per se.
A composition by Frederic Costa was at the core of
“Galiléographe #1”, a light and sound performance.
2001 : Laurent Bolognini designed the “Olympia”
Galiléographie, a luminous backdrop for The Tales of
Hoffmann, staged by Olivier Py at the Geneva Grand
Théâtre.
The artist also cooperated with musical circles,
providing light installations for improvised concerts.
Such as the festival “Musique Démesurée” presented
at the Clermont-Ferrand Opera, or still the Metz Arsenal
for a concert entitled “Antre Ciel” (Celestial Den).
There, his luminous designs created a light environment
in tune with compositions by Grisey, Xenakis, d’Adamo,
Narboni, Matalon. In Great-Britain, he worked together
with the Arcanes Quatuor, both in London and
Cambridge.
While regularly exhibiting in art galleries, Bolognini
was several times offered to share in artistic events of
importance, such as the Venice Architecture Biennal,
the Paris Nuits Blanches or the Cassel Nuit des Musées.
“Electra” — his kinetic light work — has recently entered
the MAC/VAL Museum (France) permanent collections,
as well as “F-Vecteur” and “Variations #2” the Borusan
Contemporary Museum in Istanbul, Turkey.